Pink water cascaded over a waterfall as a pink creature flittered past. She arrived as the white glittering palace, the light reflecting off, giving it a divine glow. The golden plated doors opened as she flew in. Her body was around and her legs were mere nubs. She had big blue eyes that sparkled, and her wings, bug like, made her fly smoothly in the air.
She had a tuft of lime green hair, curled and a long spiky tail, like a dragon's.
She landed in front of a bright light and a voice spoke. "What is it, Dot?" The feminine voice answered. She bent down before straightening. "Your majesty," The addressed creature, Dot, began. "i have grave news. I felt the life force of our hated nemesis."
"Queen Amber? Impossible. Didn't you say the Lumen Knights took care of her?" The voice asked. Dot glanced away, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "Y-Yes," she stumbled before clearing her throat. "But it's her, unmistakable."
"In that case. You know what you must do," the voice said, as a tall thin woman stepped out of the light. Dot bowed as she knelt and touched her head. "Summon the Lumen Knights. Choose five champions from Earth as many before that they may defeat this dire threat," she said to her.
Dot nodded. "Yes, Queen Etheria, I will not fail you," she promised. Queen Etheria straightened as Dot lifted off. With a raise of her head, a swirling purple portal opened and she flew through it. It closed and Queen Etheria suddenly fell to the floor. "Mother!" Princess Lumia , as thin as her mother ran to her side, helping her up. Queen Etheria groggily shook her head as her daughter gasped, seeing the dark black lines that shimmered in the light, pulsing with a dark energy.
"Mother! Tell me it isn't true," she begged, tears stinging her eyes. "Unfortunately, it is. But don't worry, my precious daughter," she said, wiping her daughter's eyes. "The Lumen Knights will stop her and...hopefully for good."
Princess Lumia burst into tears, hugging her mother desperately as Queen Etheria hugged her back.
The portal opens as Dot passes through. Her eyes take in the round blue dot, the green continents and island mere specks of land to her. "Ah Earth," she smiled. "If I recall, Lumen Vespera used a barrier spell. A powerful one at that. However, there must be a hole, a sector which isn't protected securely."
The small creature flew around and closed her eyes, trying to sense a suitable hole in the barrier. A smile came to her face when she sensed, and she opened her eyes. "There," she said, flying toward South America, her wings flapping with haste.
-
The next morning, Scott woke up with a start, the sunlight steaming through the window, and the distant smell of scrambled eggs filled the air. He wiped the drool from his face. His gaze landed on his book, as empty as when he opened it, with only the flimsy attempt at writing the volume formula. "Oh shi—" he began, dread and regret filling his being.
Muriel opened her diary, a pink books with golden italics written, "My diary, my words," decorating it. Clicking her green pen, she hurriedly wrote in it. "Dear diary, you won't believe what happened yesterday! Yesterday my dumb brother, Scott as usual, didn't do his homework! So I told Mom and Dad, plus everyone else. In turn, they severely punished him by taking away his PC! Oh my Gosh! You should've seen his face. I was in my bedroom but trust me I was happy dancing. Anyway, I hope I see Bradley today. I missed him yesterday because I had to learn that Scott didn't do his homework from his teacher—ugh. I hate him so much, always ruining my life. So yeah, I hope today is better than yesterday, and that I see Bradley~," she writes before closing it, her hand running across the smooth glittery surface.
She quickly tucks it into her bag before slinging it over her shoulders and exiting her room.
Scott quickly scrubbed his body while simultaneously brushing his teeth. He spat on the floor, washing it down the drain. he hopped, drying himself with his towel and hurriedly drying his hair with his hair dryer.
Slipping into a red t shirt, blue jeans and black and white hi-top sneakers, he dashed down the steps and slid into the chair, wolfing down the scrambled eggs. "Scott! You're awake?" Mrs. Denoise answered. "I know, Miraculous. Let's go," he said, pushing his plate to his mother before hopping off the chair. "Woah. Woah. Scott, it's early. You're acting like you're late," Mr. Denoise commented.
Scott paused and turned around. "Seriously?" he said, before burping loudly. "Ew," Muriel comments as she skipped down the steps. "Why couldn't I get a normal brother?"
"Because I'm special," Scott answered sarcastically. "Scott, give me your book," Mrs. Denoise said.
Scott blinked. "What?"
"Your father and I have decided that we won't let you leave unless you finished your homework. Book now," she ordered. Reluctantly, Scott opened his bag and handed his mother his book. Mrs. Denoise sighed, as she showed him the barely blank page. "Seriously, Scott?" She asked, disappointment in her voice. Scott grinned, his cheeks burning red. "Whoops," he replied bashfully.
"You're doing this now," she commanded as she handed Scott his book back ."But Mom, I'll be late again and Mrs. Wagner will be furious," Scott explained. "I'll write an excuse son, now do it," she repeated sternly. Muriel snickered. "Guess you're not special after all," she smiled.
Scott frowned, shaking his head. "Ah well. I may be failing in math, but you are trying at relationships, the romantic kind, right?" he smiled deviously. Muriel's smug face disappeared and the children's parents turn their attention to Muriel. "Excusez-moi?" Mrs. Denoise blinked.
"Yeah. Muriel's breaking the "no-boys' rule, Mom," Scott crossed his arms. "Muriel..." Mrs. Denoise gasped. "It's not like that! It's only a crush."
"I don't care if you like his hair! I said no boys, no girls period," Mrs. Denoise snapped. "Exactly," Mr. Denoise nodded. "When you present your degree on a silver plater to me, then we shall discuss dating. I thought you understood that but apparently you didn't."
Scott chuckled as he headed for the counter and sat down. "How is it, that I keep the celibacy rule, sis? And don't argue it's because you're a girl. That excuse is outdated, like your single status," he said, smugly.
Muriel clenched her fists, her face red. She stormed off to the door and swung it open. "Shut up!" She yelled before slamming. Scott leaned back smugly. "What an...uh...articulate response sis!" He shouted.
"Enough. Homework now," Mrs. Denoise said. "Yes ma'am," he said, saluting, the smile not disappearing.
Scott pushed open the door, gasping. "Guten Morgen, Frau," he panted. The class snickered. Mrs. Wagner stopped writing, turning to him slowly. "Guten Morgen," she said sweetly. "Why are you late, Herr Denoise!"
Scott approached her, letter in hand. "Here," he said. She took it from him gently. "Let me guess. A magical hippo stopped you from coming early?" Mrs. Wagner glared at him. "Not this time," he smiled. She opened it and her eyes scanned the content. Folding it close, she handed it to him. "You're excused," she said, smiling sweetly. Scott fished out his homework and handed it to him. "Here. I grounded because of you," he muttered. "I'm glad. Now sit," she commanded.
He hurried to his chair and sat down. Lonnie chuckled. "I wish it was the magical hippo," he smiled. "Oh shut up," Scott said, playfully nudging him.
_
"Hurry up, Harold!" the woman shouted to her husband as he lumbered behind her. The couple were climbing the famous Pyramid of the sun, the sun's heat beating down on them and the sound of tourists fill the air.
"Oh shut up, Betty! You try climbing with this on your back!" Harrold shouted, nearly falling due to the have bag on his back, bloated with unnecessary things. Betty waved her hand and continued on without him. At that moment, the sky flashed purple and pink. The couple stopped in their tracks, staring in awe, as do the milling crowd below. A beam of light beamed to the top of the building.
The light vanished and Dot emerged, surveying her surroundings. "I can sense it," she thought. "The chosen champions are not far. I have to hurry but I can no longer teleport. I need to save energy."
She took off once more, flying over the pair, her wings shimmering in the light. The crowd murmured loudly, the sky blue once more as if the event never happened. "Oh my...did you see that, Harrold?" She asked her husband, her voice trembling. "Yes, Betty," Harrold replied in shock.
-
"Your parents did what?" Lonnie gasped. The boys were outside at the stadium, watching the cheerleaders practice. Scott bit into his tuna sandwich, the taste of the fish making his stomach grumble. "I got grounded," Scott replied.
"I got that part. They did what?" Lonnie hissed. "They took away my PC," Scott repeated. "Lucky. My granny whooped my ass. Talking about, "I raised you better." I'm guessing Muriel rattled to her, huh?" Trevor asked him. "I'm betting my savings," Scott replied.
"My parents just gave me warned me. Nothing to severe," Carl shrugged. "What? Do they want to ruin you?" Trevor asked. "Not cool, Carl. How can you learn if they don't punish you?" Felix mumbled.
"Exactly Carl," Trevor scoffed. "It's not all bad. My parents don't believe in punishment. They think it creates trauma," Carl explained. "You know what also creates trauma? Having a terrible kid. Guess where my Dad is Carl," Trevor dared. "I don't know," Carl answered.
"In jail, Carl. Guess where my Mom is?"
"In jail?" He asked. "No, in Mexico. She's avoiding the FBI because she was involved in a drug smuggling rig," Trevor said. "Um...why was your Mom in that?" Carl said. "Wrong question, why?" Lonnie replied. "My mom was young, impressionable, and stupid. Listened to dad talking about his "legitimate business" and how it'd make them rich. Turns it wasn't legitimate or legal. Now he's in jail, without an chance of parole and she can't see or raise me or she'll get captured. That's why I live with my granny," Trevor said.
"I'm sorry," Carl apologized, patting his shoulder. "Don't be. My mom writes me letters but granny burns them. If she loved me like she claimed, she wouldn't be in Mexico," Trevor sighed, his eyes welling with tears. "My mom's step-father always spoiled her rotten and thanks to him, she's another country eating tortillas," Trevor sobbed, his voice breaking.
The boys reached out and patted his back as Trevor buries his face in his hands, sobbing bitterly. "I'm really sorry. I didn't know," Carl said. Trevor sniffed, wiping his eyes. His body shutters as he tries to calm down. "I know, man. I know. Y'all are lucky your families ain't split up like mine. At least you can see your mama, Scott. I can't," Trevor sighed.
Lonnie popped some minty gum into his mouth, the flavor melting on his tongue as he chewed. "My parents are such losers, they divorced each other twice and remarried each other twice!" Lonnie snorted. The group burst into laughter, and even Trevor laughed along, the tension and sadness in the air forgotten. "Thank Lonnie," Trevor said, elbowing him. "Happy to help," Lonnie smiled.
Trevor's phone suddenly pings and he whips it out, checking his notifications. He clicks one article in his notifications. "Mysterious beam in Mexico. Aliens or something worse?" Felix read out. "What?" Lonnie said. "He said, Lonnie—"
"We know Carl," Scott cut in. "Let me?"
Trevor hands him the phone. Scott clears his throat and reads, "This morning, around 10 a.m., the sky was said to turn purple and pink and a beam came down. Five seconds later, a strange creature flew off at the speed of sound."
Scott then read in an old man's voice. "It was alien, I swear!" Harold, one of the tourists said. "I bet the government is gonna cover this up, promise," Harold added. No word has come from the Mexican government."
"Freaky," Felix mumbled. "Indeed. Maybe it is aliens," Lonnie said. "Dude, aliens are not real," Scott answered. "Except Pokémon," Carl countered. "Oh my God—dude. For the last time. Pokémon are not aliens," Scott said, his attention drawn to the shouts from the cheerleaders below. His sister had just done a backflip. She was bowing as the other girls clapped, Diane included. However, Diane's face was scrunched up in a scowl as she clapped.
Scott sighed as he bit into his tune sandwich. "Man, if aliens exits, maybe they can kidnap Muriel and erase her crush on Bradley," he confessed suddenly. The boys turned to him, their expressions ranging from shock to disgust. "Bradley Johnson? The football jock who claims he knows women but was oblivious to the needs of his girlfriend?" Trevor asked, surprised in hos voice. "Yep," Scott said. "Oh man. Who still remembers their breakup?"
They shuttered in response. "Tell her Bradley's not worth it," Lonnie advised. "No go, dude. She rejoiced when she learned that Bradley broke up with his girlfriend. She went up to him, lips redder than my Poison Ivy rash and tapped her shoulders. He turned around, looked up and down then walked away. I've never seen her stand there so still and embarrassed," Scott said, chewing.
They all chuckled then sat back. "Man, today is a mood," Felix muttered.
The cheerleaders filed into the locker room. As the girls were changing, Muriel was busy, writing in her diary. "Dear diary. I'm thinking of confessing. Yes, again. I know last time didn't go so well. But thrice is the charm right?"
She's interrupted by Diane slamming the door. "Oh. Gotta go," she wrote before shutting the book. "Did you see Muriel's flip? It was...exquisite," Lydia commented. Diane rolled her eyes. "Everything to you is exquisite. I saw her doing that flip yesterday. It's nothing new," Diane said, flipping her blonde hair. Muriel picked up her book bag and left the locker room, pushing past Diane. "Hey! Watch it!" Diane shouted after her. "Sorry," she said absentmindedly as she left.
"Stupid girl...huh?" She said, looking down. She picked up the pink book, seeing the italic words, "My Diary, my words."
"Is that hers?" Samantha asked. "Indeed it is," Diane said, a grin spreading across her face. She opened it, flipping through the pages. A breathless laugh escaped her lips as she slammed it shut. "Oh Muriel. You think you one-up me in flipping? I'll make sure you never flip again," She sneered.
_
Muriel searched her bag, as Scott ran up to her. "Hey sis," Scott greeted. "Hi," she said, not even acknowledging him. "Okay, is this about my amazing roast because I'm sorry," Scott apologized. Muriel only nodded. "Hello?"
"Scott, have you seen a pink book with a heart on it?" She asks him. Scott glances at the bikes before shrugging. "No," he replies. "Okay, cool," Muriel said, anxiously. The revving of motorbike engines distracts Scott. Seeing his friends, he adjusts the strap on his bag. "Hey I gotta go. See you at home, sis," he waved.
"Yeah. Bye," she waved back as he ran off. She watched him board a motorcycle with the rider and the group drove off, loudly revving their engine. Slinging her bag over her shoulders, she sighs and turns around, but is cut off by the DOLLS. "Muriel, you look awful," Diane said. Muriel flashed a nervous grin. "Yeah. I am. Hey, um...dumb question. Did you see—"
"This?" Diane said, revealing the diary. "Oh yes! Thank you," Muriel said, walking forward. "Ah, ah, ah. It's mine now," Diane smiled. "What?" Muriel squinted at her. "And tomorrow, I'm gonna read this, interesting thing, in front of the whole school. In front of Bradley," Diane laughed, the others girls laughing with her.
Panic overcame her. "You wouldn't," She said. "I will," Diane sneered. She then snapped her fingers and the jock come running, grabbing hold of Muriel, preventing her from moving. "Bye, Muriel," Diane blew a kiss at her before sashaying off with her friends. "You fake...plastic...get back here!" Muriel shouted.
_
It was a dejected Muriel who returned home. "Muriel, what's wrong?" Mrs. Denoise asked her daughter. "Nothing, just...tired," she mumbled as she dragged herself up the steps. "Hey Muriel!" Scott shouted as she walked past. Not getting a response, he got up and poked his head out the door. "Muriel," he called. She glanced back, letting out a sob before running into her room.
"Muriel," he said softly. She knelt to the ground and Scott entered her room, hugging her. "What's wrong?" He whispers. "Diane stole it—hic—sh-she," she didn't finish, breaking down, sobbing. "What?" Scott said, concern on his face. "Diane took my—hic—diary. It's not—hic—fair. She said—hic—she'll read in front of everyone, even Bradley..." she cried, sobbing again.
Scott hugged her closer as she cried. "Scott—hic—get it back," she begged. Scott blinked. "What? Woah, I get it. Emotion, I'm not breaking into someone's house..." he paused a bit before an idea popped into his head. "Actually, I won't mind," he smiled deviously. "And neither will my friends."
Muriel hugged him back, rubbing her head in his shirt. "Thank—hic—you," she sobbed.
-
The DOLLS lounged around in Lydia's room, the wall pink and the curtains yellow. "Let's read this, shall we?" Diane said, grinning. "I don't know. What if it's cursed?" Samantha suggested. "Yeah. I heard a girl placed a curse on her diary, so anyone who opened it gets dairy intolerance," Olivia said. Diane rolled her eyes. "Muriel isn't that smart," she reasoned.
Just as she opened it, a bright light stunned them. The girls leaned back, their hands shading the eyes. The light lessened and the girls gasp at the pink creature. "Greeting, I am Dot," she said. "And you have been chosen. Lumen Knights, I choose thee!" Dot declared.